Emily Morris

R.C.I.A

Posted on by Emily Morris
Become Catholic (RCIA)

Welcome to the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)!

Class schedules are still being worked out, but we expect to begin RCIA classes by early October.

If you would like to join the initiation, completely for free, then please fill out the registration forms now.

You may print the forms below, fill them out, and send them to the parish email contact: stjoseph-freeport@rockforddiocese.org, mail them to the office, or drop them off in our mail slot. Both are required in order to begin classes.

r.c.i.a.-registration-form1Download
st-joseph-st-mary-registration-english-form4Download

Hay formularios en español disponibles. Para las clases de RICA en St. Mary, llénelos y devuélvalos a la oficina parroquial: ESPAÑOL FORMA

st-joseph-st-mary-registration-hispanic-form1Download

Aquin News and Events!

Posted on by Emily Morris

AQUIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL

With Father McMorrow teaching over at Aquin, we are proud to announce news and events going on at the school that you might be interested in. We hope you will consider lending them your kind support for as long as their halls remain open!

Voices needs your kind donations of the following products;

  • Toliet paper
  • Napkins
  • Body Wash
  • Lotion
  • Conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Razors
  • Nail Clippers
  • Dryer Sheets
  • Fabric softener
  • Hand Soap
  • Trash Bags
  • Ziploc Bags
  • Diapers
  • Plastic wrap
  • Over-the-counter Medications (pain reliever, allergy medicine, cough drops and medicine)
  • Paper towels
  • Feminine Hygeine
  • Deoderant
  • Shampoo
  • Hairbrushes and Combs
  • Shaving Cream
  • Hygiene Cream
  • Hygiene Wipes
  • Nail Files
  • Laudry Detergent
  • Dish Soap
  • Swiffer Wet or Dry
  • All-purpose Cleaner
  • Disinfectant Spray
  • Baby Wipes
  • Aluminum Foil

Donations can be brought to Aquin Catholic Highschool

Support our Aquin Bulldogs!

Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children

Posted on by Emily Morris

September 9th is the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children.

Special memorial services will be held throughout the diocese.

In the Rockford area, Bishop Malloy will be leading us in prayer for the victims of abortion at 10:00am at Calvary Cemetery on this day.

September Yellow

Posted on by Emily Morris

September Yellow – Suicide Awareness Month

As Catholics one of our fundamental beliefs is respecting all life from conception to natural death. There is much misunderstanding, confusion and heartache when we talk about suicide. It’s not an easy topic to address but a necessary one. In 2021, in the US alone, we lost 48,126 of our brothers and sisters in Christ, who died by suicide. Statistics tell us that over 90% of those who die by suicide exhibited signs of mental illness. Many go without diagnosis and treatment due to the stigma associated with mental illness. It’s up to each of us to get educated and understand mental illness for what it is … an illness! It does not define the person or make them any less loved by God.

Nationally September is recognized as suicide prevention awareness month. You are all invited to partake in a simple act of love that can save lives. Gather as a parish and pray a Living Rosary. When you pray include anyone experiencing suicidal ideation, anyone who has died by suicide and the suicide bereaved.

We will pray our Living Rosary on Wednesday, September 6th, at 6:00pm after regular Mass.

St. Joseph church 229 West Washington Place,

Freeport IL, 61032

– Please wear YELLOW as a sign of your support –

Colby Smith Run

Posted on by Emily Morris

The Run is upcoming!

Description

Join us for our 16th year!

Join us for a 4-mile, course-certified Rockford Road Runners circuit race. This unique course begins at St. Thomas Church and ends on the Aquin High School football field. Transportation is available at the finish line.  

Every year, we honor the memory of Colby J. Smith with the Colby Smith Memorial 4-Mile Classic and Colby Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Trophies are awarded to the top overall male and female winners and medals are given to the top three male and female runners in all age groups. All participants will receive a long sleeve tech t-shirt.  

Proceeds from the race benefit the Colby Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund which provides scholarships for students to attend Aquin Catholic Schools. To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, which has awarded over $144,000 to students since 2010, please use the “Donate” button above.

It has been a wonderful tribute to Colby’s memory and the support from all of you has been incredible. In addition to continuing the run, the Smith’s will continue to have an annual appeal for the Colby Smith Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Map of the Race Layout

race142085-customSectionAttachment649895931c7eb8.19731900Download

For tickets, merch, more details, race times, free will donations and t-shirts; follow the link below;

https://runsignup.com/colbysmithmemorialrun

LIFELINE COALITION BANQUET

Posted on by Emily Morris

Lifeline Coalition invites you to celebrate LIFE at the Grand River Hall in Freeport – 2407 West Galena Avenue in Freeport, Illinois. This indoor event will be held this summer on August 18th and 19th @ 5:30 p.m. as we offer the same experience on two separate nights, so everyone gets to attend!

See what it means to Be The Lifeline to the unborn as you walk through the journey of life from conception to birth and get an inside look at what happens when a woman visits our clinics when you hear directly from our patient care team. This will be an event you won’t want to miss. Tickets are free but are required to attend this event – Seating is limited!

– Semi-formal Attire –

Thank you for choosing to participate in making our baskets beautiful for the LifeLine Coalition. We are proud to support their mission to save and nourish unborn life, and to protect struggling new mothers in need of support. Their services save lives and go above and beyond to help them thrive.

Thank you for helping us fill our gift basket for St. Joseph Church this year!

Thank you for helping us fill our gift basket for St. Mary Church this year!

Learn more about their upcoming events, mission statmenets, and offer free will donations to their site below.

https://lifelinecoalition.org/

https://lifelinecoalition.org/banquet/

12 Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Posted on by Emily Morris

Fr. Matthew McMorrow & Fr. Tom Lilly

12 DAYS PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

November 7 – 18, 2023

For additional information please contact:

FOR ALASKA, CONTACT: Bob McMorrow / (907) 273-1552 / rmcmorrow@stbenedictsak.com

FOR ILLINOIS, CONTACT: Fr. Matthew McMorrow / (630) 844-3780 (parish office) / mmcmorrow@rockforddiocese.org

PLEASE CHECK YOUR PASSPORT CAREFULLY. MUST BE VALID UNTIL AT LEAST MAY 31, 2024.

I know I am just getting started here, but I do have exciting news to share. I am leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in November, and I would love to have parishioners from Freeport join the trip. The pilgrimage is from Nov 7-18th, 2023.

This will be a great pilgrimage that will be a blessing for us all. As we read about the Sermon on the Mount, the Sea of Galilee and the hill of Calvary, it adds a whole new level of devotion and understanding to see and touch those places. How amazing it is to offer Mass in the Shepherd’s Cave in Bethlehem and to walk the stations of the cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Jesus can move powerfully in our lives when we give Him our time and effort and ask Him to move our hearts.

I hope you will consider coming with me, and I so look forward to seeing how God will use this pilgrimage of faith! Even if you can’t come, I will be sharing information back with you through the bulletin and social media.


Details about the pilgrimage can be found at: https://www.catholicpilgrimoffice.com/mcmorrow2023


Unfortunately, because of the short notice, we have to get the
registrations in by mid-July.


In Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Matthew McMorrow

REGISTRATION FORM

Due to the late notice, please fill out and send in your registration forms as soon as possible

(By Mid-July).

RegForm-McMorrow2023Download
McMorrowBrochureDownload

CPOWelcomeAboardPacket-2023Download

https://www.catholicpilgrimoffice.com/mcmorrow2023